7 Days Rwanda Primate safari
7 Days Rwanda Primate safari is an excellent safari focusing on giving a great time in primate habitats in Rwanda, this safari offers a visit to 2 great primate habitats of Rwanda that are from Nyungwe national park a home to over 13 primate species and a huge population of chimpanzees. And Volcanoes national park a great and recognized habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorillas.
On 7 days Rwanda primate safari you are to encounter chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park on an entertaining chimpanzee tracking experience and visit the critically endangered mountain gorillas on a Rwanda mountain gorilla trekking safari adventure. This safari package also offers an opportunity to learn more about the history of mountain gorillas conservation and the works of Dain Fossey towards this cause.
Highlights of 7 days Rwanda primate safari
- Day 1: arrival in Kigali
- Day 2: transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 3: chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
- Day 4: transfer to volcanoes national park
- Day 5: mountain gorilla tracking in volcanoes national park
- Day 6: Dian Fossey hiking
- Day 7: transfer back to Kigali and departure
Detailed itinerary of 7 days Rwanda primate safari
Day 1: arrival in Kigali
Upon your arrival at Kigali international airport, you will meet and be welcomed by a representative from Focus East Africa Tours who will also be your safari driver for the whole journey, from Kigali you will transfer to your hotel in Kigali, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 2: transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
After early morning breakfast you will checkout of your lodge and set off on a drive to Nyungwe forest national park, on your way you will have en-route visit to the Former king’s palace in Nyanza, visting tea fields and have lunch. Drive to Nyungwe forest national park takes about 6 hours and when you arrive in the park you will check into your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 3: chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
After early morning breakfast you will leave your lodge and head to the park’s headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee tracking, a head guide will read you the dos and don’ts to follow on this experience. After the briefing you will hike into the forests in search for chimpanzees, as you track for chimpanzees you will spot other primate species such as black and white colobus monkeys, mangabeys and many bird species such as Rwenzori Turaco, black and white casqued hornbill and many more. When you locate the chimpanzees you will spend one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees watching them play on tree branches and pick fruits, after the experience you will head back to your lodge for lunch. After lunch you will drive back to the park for a canopy walk, canopy walk is done on a high suspended metallic bridge suspended above the forests and on the walk you will enjoy viewing many birds and monkeys. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 4: transfer to volcanoes national park
After breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout and set off on a drive to Kigali with en-route visit at the Botanical Gardens and the cultural Museum in Butare for historical and cultural tours, you will arrive in Kigali at lunch which you will have at any hotel then proceed northwards to Kinigi via Musaze and on your way you will be rewarded by scenic views of rolling hills. When you arrive in the park, you will check into your lodge and in the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 5: mountain gorilla tracking in volcanoes national park
After early breakfast, you will meet your safari and together with your packed lunch you will head to the park’s headquarters for briefing, a senior game ranger will take you through rules and regulations to follow on mountain gorilla trekking which is the highlight of the safari, be assigned a group to trek and then head in to the forests. Tracking for mountain gorillas takes about 2-4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent the night the previous day, after finding the gorillas you are allowed to stay only for one hour in the presence of the gorillas taking amazing pictures and watching the behavior of these shy creatures. After the trekking you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 6: Dian Fossey hiking
After early breakfast at your lodge, you will head to volcanoes national park offices with your packed lunch for briefing, at the park’s offices you will be taken through the rules and regulations to follow then head into the park’s forests heading to Dian Fossey tomb and Karisoke research center. Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who dedicated her life to carrying out research and conserving mountain gorillas, unfortunately she was killed by unknown people and she was buried near the research center amidst mountain gorillas. On this experience you will visit Dian Fossey tomb and karisoke research center where you will learn more about mountain gorillas and get a deeper insight about mountain gorilla habituation. After the safari you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali and departure
After early morning breakfast at your lodge, you will meet your safari driver then checkout and embark on your journey to Kigali city, upon your arrival you will have a short city tour which entirely depends on your departure flight time. The city tour takes you on a visit to Kigali genocide memorial center, Gisozi memorial center, kimironko market and other craft centers. Later you will be dropped off at the airport to catch your departure flight back home.
End of the safari
Safari inclusions
- Transportation in a Tour Van/Land cruiser.
- Service of an English-speaking tour guide/Driver
- One gorilla permit per person
- Park admissions
- Accommodation on full board
- Entrance fees to all destinations as per the program.
- Transfers to and from Kigali International Airport
Safari exclusions
- Phone call bills
- Tips
- International Transfers
- Visas to Rwanda
- Gratitude to tour-guides
- Personal insurance
- Personal effects of any nature
- Hotel fees before and after the safari
